Protected record file



Oct. 8, 1929.. J. Q. SHERMAN PROTECTED RECORD FILE Filed Feb. 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. s; 1929.

J. Q. SHERMAN 1,731,180

PROTECTED RECORD FILE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26, 1925 "Nllllllllllllll i Patented olii. s, 1929 A 1,731,180

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN Q. SHERMAN,.0E DAYTON, oHIo PROTECTED RECORD FILE Application filed February 26, 1925. Serial No. 11,758.

My invention relates to tiles tor loose memlected unit or holder may be exposed to View oranda, sales slips, account records and the thru its transparent cover. The file units or like, wherein such lilcd data sheets will be slip hoders are held against removal from protected against unauthorized removal or prearrangedseries, while permitting such mutilation, and vvherein the summary of each oscillatory movement by a locking rod, which 55 account, digest of the le contents or tabulaengages the covers of successive slip holders tion of-data is at all times easily and readily or tile units and is locked in position in the accessible. box or receptacle. IVhen so positioned and While the file herein described is particuheld within a receptacle, the side walls of larly applicable to retail mercantile business the latter form closures for the intervening G0 for containing and protecting the ledger acspace between the front and back covers ofthe counts of customers, the filing device is also several units or holders, thereby preventing applicable to other lines ot' accounting, as for unauthorized'access to the data sheets or sales instance, a physicians account-ing system,` slips contained therein. In lieu of utilizing or for tiling andkeeping detailed record of the Wall of the receptacle to close the units, 65 stock requisitions vin a factory, signature each unitmay be provided with side tlanges cards in a bank, bank records of deposit or or the unit or holder may he of box form, as a file of classified general information. thereby forming a complete closure Within In the present invention there is contemitself.

plated a collection of tile units, or containers The object of the invention is to simplify 70 for sales slips, data sheets, memoranda leaves the st-ructure as Well as the means and mode or the like, preferably though not necessarily of operation of protected account tiles and provided with binder posts, spring clips or the like, whereby they will not only be cheapother means for detachably engaging and reened in construction, but Will' be more ettitaining a collection of loose sheets or slips cient in use, capable of being easily and quick- 75 therein. ly manipulated to disclose the summary of Each unit or container is formed with an any desired account or filed record sheet. yet observation space or Window through which affording protection against the removal or may be observed the topmost data sheet or alteration of such record sheet and to afford record page which in the case of sales slips ample protection for the memoranda` or data 80 would be the last sales record bearing the from which the ledger card or record sheet is total of the account to date, it being undercompiled.

` stood that the usual practice is to carry for- With the above primary and other inciward the grand total from one sales sli u to dental objects in view as Will more fully apanother. In lieu ofthe last sales slip or nal pear in the specification, the invention con- 85 record sheet being exposed through the obsists of the features of construction, the parts servation space, a. ledger card or summary and combinations thereof, and the mode of sheet, or index record of the contents of the operation or their equivalents as hereinafter unit may be exposed to view through such described and set forth in the claims.

40 observation space or window. In either in- In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a 90 stance the exposed record is protected by an longitudinal sectional View of a tile box or overlying transparent cover sheet which prereceptacle containing a number of tile uits or vvents the removal of the sales slip, ledger card slip holders of the type herein described. or summary sheet and prevents the changing Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a springback of entries thereon. type of slip 'holder or file unit removed from o5 The collection of tile units or sales slip the receptacle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view holders is preferably tho not necessarily arof the file unit or strip holder opened to exranged in a tile box or receptacle for to and pose to view the filed sales or memoranda fro oscillatory movementby which the ledger slips contained therein. Fig. 4 is a detailed card or record sheet or sales total of any sesectional View illustrating the locking en- 10o gagement of the retaining rod and closure clip for the holder. Fig. 5 a detail perspective view of a clamp or clip for retaining the holder in closed condition. Fig. (i is an interior perspective view of a lil'e unit or holder of modified form, embodying a conventional form ot' spring clip for holding the sales slips. Fig. T is a perspective view ot' a unit or holder wherein the slips and ledger card are loosely held on posts or studs. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating a box type of unit or holder. Fig. 10 is a perspective-view illustrating a modified torni of re! taining and locking means. Figs. 1.1 and 12 are detail views showing the units locked and unlocked respectively. Fig. 13 is a side elevation or" a collection ot units engaged with the retaining frame. Fig. let is a` detail of the clasp.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a simple form of envelope employed as the slip holder or unit.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present invention utilizes in combination, certain features which have heretofore been employed separately, but which are here combined and rearranged in such relationship to eo-operate with each other'and to af- `.tord protection againstthe removal or mutilation of tiled matter. The tile unit or holder herein described may be a. conventional form of loose leaf binder or either spring back or stud post type, such as is frequently used by deliveryinen and by shippers for holding bills of lading, invoices and the like. These binds ers, however, are ordinarily used singly and the contents are entirely without protection, being always accessible for removal or for change and falsification of entries. It has been more or less the common practice to lock a series of index cards in a box or receptacle by transfixing them upon a retaining rod. Such cards are always accessible, however, for mutilation or for change of entries. The mere locking of independent cards against removal does not prevent falsification of Athe records on such cards, or the mutilation of such cards which may be4 torn from the lockmg rod, without leaving trace oi' such removal. In the present instance, known features have been combined and reconstructed into a protected file ai'ording security to the filed matter and in their new7 relationship supplying a need which was not met by the features of the present tile when separately employed.

In constructing the present embodiment ot a protected file, there isemployed a box or receptacle 1, to receive a plurality of vtile units or holders for independent sales'slips, memoranda sheets, data leaves or t-he like. Each ofthe file units or holders illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is in the form of a spring back loose leat| binder, comprising front and rear covers 2 and 3, hinged to an intermediate spring back portion 4. The covers 2 and 3 are pret'- e-rably of sheet metal, such as aluminum, but may be of tag board, book-bindei"s board or even of a heavy grade of mani-la board or paper. The spring back 4 as usually e1nployedis otl tubular form, longitudinally slotted, with a tendency to contract and thereby clamp within the longitudinal slot of such tubular spring back 4, any sheet or memoranda slip which may have been inserted therein. The covers 2 and 3 are hinged to this spring back or clamp portion 4. The usual mode ot' operation is to turn one of the covers backward to a wide open position and employ the leverage of such cover to pry open the back clip et against its inherent tension to enable the insertion and removal of sales slips or memoranda sheets. The frontcover 2 of this tile unit or holder is provided with a window opening 6, having a transparent closure sheet 7 of Celluloid, mica, glass, pyraline or similar material. Positioned behind the transparent panel of the cover 2 is a ledger card 8. In lieu of the ledger card 8, there may be substituted a summary card or index pertaining to the contents of the lile unit 0r holder. The free ends of the cover portions 2 and 3 extend somewhat beyond the extremities of the inserted sales slips or memoranda sheets 5, and are apertured, the apertures in the respective cover portions 2 and 3 register- .ing with each other to enable the engagement `therein of one or more retaining rods common to the series of units. To hold the file unit or holder in closed position and prevent the cover portion being separated by slidingly adjusting them upon the retaining` rods, a clasp fastener 11 is pi voted to one of the covers and is provided with spaced perforated ears 12, which straddle the tree ends of the cover portions 2 and 3 when the unit or holder is closed, with the perforations 13jA 'of such ears registering with the holes in the cover of the unit. In a simple but eiiicient form, the retaining means may comprise aY lengitun dinally removable rod 1() transfixing the units lor holders which are preforated at 9 receive the rod. The retaining rod not only eX- tends through the perfor-ations of the covers, but also through the perforat-ions 13 of the clasp fastener when the latter is in its closed condition. The holes in the unit covers 2 and 3, as well as the holes 13 in the clasp fastener, are suliiciently largeto alford the necessary clearance to enable a reasonable range of oscillatory movement of the units or holders in a fore and aft direction within the box or receptacle 1.y The retaining rod 10 is looked within the receptacle 1, and in its translixing relation with the units or holders by means of a key lock 14, of any suitable construction or design.

While the use of the rod 10 extending f to 13. In this form of retainer through the perforations 9 of the units affords an effective and cheap retaining means, a preferable construction is shown in Figs. lO

the disadvantage of having to withdraw the rod 10 to release a desired unit isovercolne by providing a collapsible frame which when contracted permits any unit to be easily 'remove-d from the series. In Fig. 10 which is a side elevation, 32 indicates the mounting which may be a receptacle or drawer, or a. base upon which the series of units are arranged in series. Each of the units is provided with inwardly enlarged apertures in the lower margins. The apertures have been shown as substantially T shaped. having a narrow entrance mouth beyond which the apertures are laterally enlarged. Located to the front and rear of the series of units are a pair of interpivoted oscillatory arms 84. The lower ends of' the arms of each pair are interconnected by a spring 35 which tends to oscillate the pivoted arms toward parallelism, like a pair of tongs. The corresponding arms 34 of each pair are interconnected by longitudinal rods 36 which are moved toward and from each other by the oscillation of the arms, thereby forming a collapsible frame. lVhen the retaining frame is in contracted or collapsed condition as shown in Fig. 12, the rods 3G being closely positioned to each other readily enter the contracted mouth ofthe aperture 33 as the units are rested upon the retaining.

frame. Upon expansion of the retaining frame by outward oscillation ,of the inter.- pivoted arms 34, the rods 36 are separated and enter into the lateral enlargement of the apertures Being in overhanging relation with the inward projecting portions of the units and out of registry with the restricted mouth of' the aperture, the units can not be disengaged until the. retaining trame is again collapsed. To expand the frame against the tension ot the spring 35, elliptical cam heads 37 are provided between the pivoted arms These cam heads 37 are interconnected to rotate in unison vby a shaft or rod 38. The heads are rotated by a key 39. Then in transverse position in which they distend the tong like arms 34, they engage in shallow depressions 40 to retain-their adjusted positions until disengaged by means of the key.

Obviously one of the arms 34 of each pair and one of the rods 36 might be omitted` and' the units retained by the movement of one rod only into the lateral portion of the apertures.

A. clasp fastener 11 is employed, the free end of which overhangs the retaining rod 36 to prevent its disengagement. l Such tree end is preferably tapered or camshaped enabling the rod 36 to complete the closing movement ofthe clasp it the latter is only partially oscillated.

In the event otfling retail sales slips and the like, or other memoranda in which a suinmary or grand total is carried forward vfrom one slip to another, no ledger card or other cumulative summary is needed. The last sales slip ot the number filed being visible thru the transparent protective cover, the clerk may ascertain therefrom the amount dueto be entered upon a succeeding slip, orto receive payment therefor as the case may be. To meet other conditions of use a ledger card or summary to which items are transferred from the .tiled slips or sheets may be desirable. In such case the sun'nnary or ledger card is preferably though not necessarily engaged in the unit independently of the slips, altho they may be engaged by the saine spring clip or binding posts with the memoranda slips as shown in Fig. 7.

The transparent protective panel 7 and the ledger card 8 or the 'summary or index card which may be substituted therefor, may be retained within guides or overhanging fianges 15, surrounding the observation openings of the unit cover. 'l'hese over-hanging guide flanges 15 enclose three sides of the ledger card and protective transparent overlying sheet. Such guide fianges are open adjacent to the free end ot' the cover 2 to permit the withdrawal of the ledger card for further entries. However, the locking rod extends' in such close proximity to the free margins ot' the ledger card and .overlying protective transparent cover that such cards are immovably held within the guide flanges' 15A when the holder or unit is secured within the. receptacle'l. In lieu of mounting the ledger or summary card and transparent overlying protective cover in the guide flanges 15, these maybe placed on top of the collection of sales slips and engaged therewith within the spring back 4, or the clip 17 (Fig. (i).

W'hile the form of loose leat binder employing the tubular spring back It affords a convenient file unit or holder, the invention is not liniited tovthis particular construction, but

contemplates any means for detachably holding separate sales slips intermediate a pair ot covers, which are secured in prearrangcd order or series against removal, but which are. permitted to and fro movement to expose to view the faces of such holders or units. As a modification there is shown in Fig. 6 a unit or holder, wherein the :trent and rear covers 2 and 3 are formed from a continuous strip of material such as. tag board folded upon itself to pa v'allelism. Within the fold of' such modified unit or cover there is secured the conventional form of spring stationery clip 17, which serves to clamp and detachably hold the sales slips or memorandum sheets. which may be filed intermediate the covers 2 and 3. This spring clip 17 comprises a small portion ot' spring metal bent upon itself to afford clamp jaws. between which the sales slips or Cil ,memoranda sheets are clamped. The jaivs are opened byI small wire arms 1.8, hinged t0 the margins of the aws, which are bent backward and their leverage utilized for separating the spring jaws to permit insertion of the slips. This spring clip per se is a staple article of commerce at thev present time.

In lieu of the spring back binder, or the spring clip heretofore described for holding the sales slips, such sales slip and the ledger card or summary sheet and transparent protective cover sheet as well, may be loosely retained' within the units or holders. Such sales slip and summary cai-d together with the overlying transparent protective cover, may

'be 'irovided with ierforations for enc'aeement over studs or posts, within the tile unit or holder or such card inserts may be loosely held Within the tile unit which being provided with side Walls or flanges is complete Within `itself, and non-dependent upon the box or receptacle.

In Fig. 7 there is shoivn a construction wherein the front and back covers 20 and 2l are hinged one to the other, at Either of these cover sections may be provided with marginal flanges 2&3, which in the present in stance are shown on the front cover portion 20. This cover portion 20 is provided with an observation opening or window 2i. The back cover 2l is provided with standing studs or posts 25, which for economy of manufacture may comprise tongues of material struck up from the back cover section Q1. In 'the present instance, not only are the sales slips or memoranda sheets 5 engaged vover the Standing studs or posts 25, but the ledger card and transparent protective cover are also in like manner engaged upon the studs or posts 25 on top of the collection of sales slips 5, so that when the unit is closed, the ledger cards or summary sheet and protective transparent covers are intermediate the collection of sales slips and the front cover Q() and observable thru the Window opening 24. T hcse units or holders when Closed are retained in prearranged succession or series by the retaining rod l0, which extends thru the holes 9 of successive units or holders. Each holder in itself being complete in itself and being closed by the marginal flanges 23, it is not necessary that they be secured within a box or receptacle, but may be housed in any suitable rack or merely retained in series upon the retaining rod 10. In lieu of the hinged holder or binder as heretofore described, there may be employed envelopes or box-like. tile units or holders as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. These units have their frontand rear cover portions 27 and 28 permanently interconnected by a marginal Wall 29. Each unit or holder is provided with an observation Window 30, in the front Wall 27. The units are accessible thru an open end 3l. thru which not only the sales slips but also the.ledger cards or summary sheet and transparent protective sheet are insertable. These sheets are loosely slipped into" the unit or holder With the transparent protective sheet and summary card adjacenty tending thru the holes 9 in the front and rear Walls of the unit and thence' transversely across the open end. y

rThe locked rod-l0 retains the unit shown in F 7 and 8 in prearranged series or order, in which, however, they are capable of to and fro oscillatory movement, permitted by making the holes 9 sutliciently larger than the diameter of the rod l0 to pern'iit the necessary clearance.

In using this protected file in an ordinary mercantile business, a file unitor holder is provided for each credit customer Whose name is entered on the top of the holder 0r unit as at 16, in Fig. 2. The holders or un'its are free for limited sliding` movement to and fro upon the retaining rod l() as well as for oscillatory nuiivcinent in a fore and aft direction by which the series of holders or units may be separated at any desired point to expose to view thru the transparent overlying protective sheet, the ledger card showing the condition ot' the account of any particular customer. Thus the account of the customer is readily accessible to the clerk for the ascertainment of the total amount due, the dates of purchases and payments, but is not accessible for removal of the ledger earth-nor for change or falsification of the entry. During the progress of the days business, sales slips or memoranda sheets as the case may be are deposited between the succeedingr unit-s or holders of the file. preferably immediately in advance of the customers accounts to which they pertain.

At the close of business the proprietor or accountant releases the tile unit or holders by unlocking` the retaining rod by means of the lock 14, and removes the unit. He then With` draws the ledger card and enters thereon the total of the days business as indicated by sales slips or memoranda sheets pertaining to such accounts, and secures `within the tile unit or holder, the sales slips or memoranda sheets upon which the charges and entries are based. Upon returning the holders to the receptacle and locking them by locking the retaining rod, the sales slips are secured against removal by a dishonest clerk, or by a dshonest customer who might surreptitiously remove some of the sales slips. The clerk or attendant is thus able to file current memoranda or sales slips, intermediate the tile units or holders and to ascertain the condition of any account or recorded summary from the ledger sheet, or visible sales slip, but he cannot remove such card or change the entries thereon, nor remove or mutilate the previously the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is sus-- eeptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement-of parts Without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language 3 more or less specific as to structural features, it is tobe understood that the invention is not shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

l. In a protected ilefor accounts and the like, a plurality of holders, each comprising a pair of covers between which iile slips are to be deposited, spring clip means intermediate the covers for detachably engaging the deposited slips, one of said covers being apertured to expose to View a slip deposited therein, a receptacle for a plurality of such holders, the holders being accessible for deposit or removal of slips only upon removal from the receptacle, and means for retaining the holders Within the receptacle l and fro oscillatory movement of said holders.

2. In a .protected lile for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose leaf binders arranged in series and open at their bottom margins for the insertion and removal of leaves, means for locking the binders against opening and also against .removal from the series While permitting to and fro oscillatory movement of the binders. i

3. In a protected file for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose leaf binders, eachy comprising a pair of covers and means for detachably engaging a plurality of loose sheets in book style between the covers, means common to a plurality of binders for locking the covers against opening, and means for retaining the binders in 'prearranged series While permitting to and fro movement thereof. v

Li. In a protected file for accounts and the like, a plurality of spring back loose leaf binders in prearranged series, the individual binders of the series being accessible for observation but not for insertion or removal of sheets, each comprising a pair of covers, a spring back section interconnecting the covers and adapted to clamp a collection of loose While permitting to,

sheets, means for locking the covers in closed relation and means for retaining the binders in prearranged series Whilepermitting relative adjustment thereof for observation of selected binders of the series.

5. In a prdtected file for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose leaf binders each accessible for observation of individual binders, each comprising a pair of covers and means for securing a collection of loose sheets therebetween, means for securing the covers in closed relation, and means for preventing removal of the binders from their prearrangement in series While permitting relative ad- 'ustment thereof for observation of selected binders of the series..

6. In a protected file for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose leaf binders capable of detachably holding a collection of loose l leaves, the binders being each accessible for observation thereof, a receptacle in which the binders are located in substantially upright positions with the binding portion uppermost, and the open ends of the binders Within the receptacle, the Walls of Which prevent access to the contents of the binders Without removal from the receptacle and means for preventing the removal of the binders from the receptacle While permitting to and fro movement thereof Within the receptacle to enable observation of selected binders of the series.

7 In a protected file for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose leaf binders each capable of detachably holding a collection of loose leaves, each including an apertured cover and a locking rod common to a plurality of binders and engageable simultaneously in the cover apertures thereof for locking the binders to `prevent access to the contents thereof, and an overlying card or the like 1in each binder containing a summary of the con-' tents of the binder inaccessible but visible from the exterior of the binder. Y

8. In a file unit for accounts and the like, a loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of covers, means for detachably holding a collection of loose leaves intermediate the covers, a transparent Window in one of the covers, a sheet containing al summaryof the contents of the binder displayed thru the transparent Window and a fastening device for said binder extending transversely across the binder from one cover to the other in the path of lremoval of the filed leaves and summary sheet from said binder, preventing access filed leaves or the summary sheet.

9. In a protected file for accounts andthe like, a plurality of loose leaf bindesfeach comprising a pair of covers 'betwee which a collection of loose leaves is insertable, means fo:` preventing the removalof the collection of loose leaves therefrom, and means common to the plurality of binders preventing the independent removal of said binders and for retaining the binders in prearranged series 10. In a protected tile for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose lealLl binders, each comprising a. pair of covers, means tor dctachably securing a collection of loose lea ves intermediate the covers, a biturcated clasp pivoted to one of the'covers and straddling the free ends of the covers when the binder is closed to retain the covers in closed relation, and means common to a plurality ot binders normally extending into the path of swinging diseiigaginhr movement of thc pivoted clasps to prevent the release of the covers and for retaining the binders in prearranged series While permitting to and fro relative movement thereof.

11. In a protected tile for account.`| and the like, a plurality of loose lea't' binders, each comprising` a pair ol' covers, ni'eans lor detachably securing a collection of loose leaves therebetween, said covers being apertured vadjacenttheir free, ends and beyond the extreinities of the leaves contained tlierebetween, and a retaining rod coninion to a number of binders extending thru registering apertures in the covers thereof, to provent removal of the binders from prearranged series.

12. In a protected file for accounts and the like, a plurality of file units to receive sales slips and the like, a transparent window in each unit, a summary sheet pertaining to the contents ot the unit visible through the transparent `window, said summary sheet being removable from the unit, and a retaining rod common to a plurality of file units and extending through registering openings therein in the pat-h of Withdrawal of the sinnmary shcets, preventing their removal lwhile permitting their examination by relative to and fro movement of the units.

13. In a protected file for accounts land the I like, a plurality of upright tile units open at their bottom margins to receive loose sales slips and the like, a transparent Window in each unit, a summary sheet pertaining to the contents of the unit slidingly ,mounted behind the transparent window of each unit and visible therethrough,` yand means extending transversely-0f the open bottoni margins of the units for locking the summary sheets against removal while permitting their eX- aminationuby the to and fro relative movement ot' the units.

14. In a protected tile for accounts and the like, a plurality of tile units each comprising a pair of covers arranged in substantially uprightpositions and hinged at their tops with the free end of the covers downturned, means Jfor detachably securing a collection of loose leaves intermediate the covers, a receptacle Within which the units are removably located, the sides and bottom of which form closures for the open n'iargins of the tile units, said units being accessible for insertion and removal of leaves by removal from the receptacle, a transparent window in each unit, a summary sheet visible through the transparent Window of each unit, said units being capable oi to and 'ro movement Within the receptacle to expose the summary sheets ofy ably securing a collect-ion of loose leaves therebetween, and retaining means adapted to be locked in position coninion to a number of holders extending` into the path of rcnioval of the loose leaves trom said holders and engageable with the covers thereof, adjacent the access opening of the holder to prevent the escape of the contents and removal of the holders from prearranged series.

16,. In a protected tile. for accounts and the like, a plurality of enclosures within which file sheets are to be deposited, means within each enclosure for detachably engaging the deposited sheets, an observation opening in each enclosure, a transparent protective cover sheet overlying the contents of the holder through which the topmost sheet of such contents may be observed, a mounting for said plurality of enclosures, and means for detacliably engaging thel enclosures with the mounting while permitting relative move` ment thereof, to expose to View the overlying sheet ot' the contents of a selected enclosure.

17. In a protected tile for accounts and the like, a plurality of loose leat' holders, means for locking said holders against removal ot' the contents, each holder having an observation spaced therein, a transparent protective cover sheet coincident With the observation space through which the overlying sheet ot the contents of the holder may be observed, and means for detachably retaining the holders.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of January, A. D.

JGHN Qs SHERMAN.

IlO 

